5 eco-bikinis for sustainable summer style

Bikinis are back! These cuties are made from natural and recycled materials, and they're designed to last.

A couple of weeks ago, I put together a bunch of the cutest vintage swimsuits I could find. Understandably, they are not everybody's style. For the most part, bathing suits tend to be fairly trend-driven in the way they are designed, so suits from the past look every inch the time period they were designed in.

But you can look chic and modern — and buy from designers who care about the Earth and their designs impact on it — by looking for lines that utilize eco-fabrics and those that are designed and made in the same place. You can start by checking out some of my favorite selections below.

Ambika's sexy handknit bikinis look delicate and sweet, but they are designed for swimming and playing outside all summer long. Made by hand in upstate New York, they come in quite a few sexy designs, and some even have sweet (detachable) jewelry for a little swimming accessorizing.

Eco Swim by Aqua Green is a swimsuit line that's sold across the country in department stores like Lord & Taylor, Macy's and Nordstrom's — and it's made from recycled plastic bottle material and other recycled materials. Green goes mainstream, and check out how good it looks! Made in the USA and from a fourth-generation family owned company, too.

The Zuma Bead bikini by Kelly B is made from a bamboo/organic cotton/spandex mix and is made in Los Angeles. This is one of those simple, cute suits that you can dress up next to the pool or wear as-is on the beach.

Rachel Comey's revival bikini is designed and made in New York City, cutting its carbon footprint and resulting in a subtley graphic suit that's perfect for the woman with a creative bent.

Nikster's bikini is made in the USA from bamboo fabric. I love the fact that you can choose a different sized top or bottom so if one is bigger than the other, you can get a comfortable fit. The cute black heart detail lends this otherwise classic bikini a touch of fun.